News Briefs

+ Report recommends changes to fiscal neutrality
The second draft of a report on the fiscal side of Sarasota County growth policies begins with a sharp criticism of local planning regulations.

“Sarasota County ... (has) some of the most prescriptive growth-management policies in the country,” reads a report by Laffer and Associates on fiscal neutrality provisions for new development. “Accordingly, Sarasota has some of the highest and most volatile housing prices in the state and is growing slower than both the state average and Manatee County.”

But unlike the previous draft, which Sarasota County commissioners criticized for failing to recommend specific changes to fiscal neutrality policies, Laffer has honed in on recommendations.

For a new development project to receive initial approval, the developer must prove the project is fiscally neutral or beneficial — that taxes, fees, assessments and charges for services balance out new public facilities and services to support the development. The Sarasota 2050 plan, a controversial long-term planning document guiding development east of I-75, requires developers to do that at the outset of a project, and in subsequent phases.

The Laffer report recommends eliminating the ongoing nature of the fiscal neutrality provision and using an economic model to determine the upfront cost-benefit of a new development to the county tax coffers. If the expected tax revenues of new development outweigh the cost of infrastructure to support it, the county could borrow the funds necessary for improvements — the new taxes should pay off borrowing costs.

The report also urges the county to lean toward impact fees rather than fiscal neutrality policies as a tool to assure new development pays infrastructure costs.

+ Governor visits the Ranch
Gov. Rick Scott will make two stops in Lakewood Ranch Jan. 30.

Scott will attend a fundraiser at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing before serving as the keynote speaker at the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange’s 62nd annual dinner, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Polo Grill and Bar.

Meetings & agendas
Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Land-Use Meeting — 9 a.m. Feb. 6 at the Manatee County Administration Building, 112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Manatee County School District Audit Committee Meeting — 3 p.m. Jan. 29 at 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.